§ Sir H. COTTONTo ask the Secretary of State for India, if he can state the average price per chest realised at the opium sales in Calcutta month by month from April to December, 1907, inclusive; and what was the estimate of the average price per chest in the Budget of the current year.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The average price per chest realised at the monthly opium sales in Calcutta from
§ 1907, cannot yet be given. The following statement shows the amounts for the years ended March 1905 and 1906 respectively, and for the year ended March 1907, so far as the information is at present available:—
§ April to December, 1907, was as follows:—
| Rupees. | |
| April | 1,456 |
| May | 1,412 |
| June | 1,428 |
| July | 1,329 |
| August | 1,313 |
| September | 1,290 |
| October | 1,408 |
| November | 1,340 |
| December | 1,277 |
§ The average price estimated in the Budget for 1907–8 was Rs. 1,250.
§ SIR H. COTTONTo ask the Secretary of State for India, if he can state the amount of Indian opium revenue realised during the first nine months of the current financial year, 1907–8, and the amount estimated for the whole year in the Budget.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The gross amount of Indian opium revenue realised during the first eight months of the current financial year 1907–8 was £3,580,467, and the amount estimated for the whole year in the Budget was £4,851,100. Figures for nine months are not yet available.